Reginald Dixon MBE, FRCO (16 October 1904 – 9 May 1985) was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.
Born in Sheffield in 1904 in humble surroundings, his first musical job was as pianist-cum-musical director at the Stocksbridge Palace cinema, at £3 a week. It was before the “talkies” arrived, and every situation in a film had to have its own mood music. Often, he would remove the bottom board of the piano and kick the strings to create a thunder effect.
He was organist on the Wurlitzers of the West End, Birmingham, the Regent, Dudley and in Preston, before securing the job at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, in 1930. Before the month was out he made the first of over 2,000 broadcasts. Within a few years his records were selling at the rate of 50,000 a year, and fan mail was arriving from all over the world. His signature tune of “I Do Like To be Beside the Seaside” was as well known as the Tower itself.
The present Wurlitzer installed at the Tower dates from 1935 (installation started in December 1934). After his arrival, Dixon realised that the existing instrument was not powerful enough for the massive ballroom. Dancers regularly complained that they could not hear the instrument well, especially when the ballroom was full. He set about persuading the management of the benefits of an improved instrument. The new instrument was actually designed by Reginald Dixon himself and (with a few updates) is the same instrument still there today. The Wurlitzer company presented him with a gold watch to mark the opening of the new 'Wonder Wurlitzer', and in 1938 he was voted the UK's number one theatre organist. His fee at this time was £2,000 per annum. The original, smaller Wurlitzer was enlarged as a 'twin' and installed in the Empress Ballroom Blackpool under the hands of Horace Finch.
Dixon served in the Royal Air Force during World War 2, when he attained the rank of Squadron Leader.
Dixon continued at the Tower until his retirement in 1970, when he was succeeded by Ernest Broadbent. Sunday afternoon concerts continued until 1976 when the current policy of all-day dancing was introduced by the then Tower owners, EMI. A year later in 1977 Broadbent was succeeded as principal Tower organist by Phil Kelsall.
Dixon's farewell tour lasted ten years after retirement from the Tower Ballroom. He also had a successful recording and broadcasting career spanning 50 years. Concerts had been arranged for 1981 but he had become too ill to fulfil the engagements. His final recording was released in 1981, made on the Wurlitzer Organ of the Thursford Collection in Norfolk.
Reginald Dixon (Tower Organist) is not to be confused with his fellow organist, Dr. J.H. Reginald Dixon FRCO.
Reginald Dixon died on 9 May 1985, and was cremated at Carleton Crematorium, Blackpool.
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